One More Before I Go

I have never done this before. I set my list sometime in November and if anything comes out after it simply does not compete. This year there was an album that came out on December 2nd and I discovered it on December 8th already four albums into my countdown. Since this is my last year doing these lists I felt an incredible need to include it. Where it would fall in the countdown is not really important as it is just an album that needs to be listened by everyone period.

If you have been following my lists over the years you know that last year’s number one was the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Hamilton: An American Musical. I consider it the greatest cast recording and musical of all time. That album holds a special place in my heart that will never be replaced. If you haven’t listened to it yet please take the time to experience it before you listen to this last album I have for you.

For my final post I give you.

Various Artists

The Hamilton Mixtape

The Hamilton Mixtape is a collection of covers, demos and songs inspired by the Broadway Musical. Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda’s original intent when writing songs about Alexander Hamilton was to create this type of mixtape. Luckily he ended up turning it into the greatest musical theater production ever created. Now the mixtape is a reality and it’s better than I ever expected.

This features a star studded cast of artists including Ashanti, Sia, Usher, Jimmy Fallon, Queen Latifah, Kelly Clarkson, Chance the Rapper, and Alicia Keys. All of them putting their own twists and interpretations on the songs of the show. My Shot features Busta Rhymes who was the inspiration for the show’s Hercules Mulligan character. Kelly Clarkston’s cover of It’s Quiet Uptown is absolutely beautiful and Usher’s take on Wait for It is debatably better than the original. Immigrants (We Get The Job Done) and Wrote My Way Out build whole new incredible songs off of a single line from the musical.

No John Trumble serves as the prologue and speaks the truth about America’s founding moments. These men were not as gracious to each other as they are depicted in the famous Trumble painting of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

This mixtape is the perfect companion to an already perfect musical that needs to be experienced by all. It proves that without any doubt Lin-Manuel Miranda is one of the greatest songwriters of our time.

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I absolutely love the mixtape and I credit it for opening my ears to artists I never would have listened to otherwise. Watsky has been my favorite discovery to date. Overall, this album is just a beautiful piece of art. Lin did a phenomenal job bringing everyone together to create this.